Romney isn't running for reelection. Republicans hostile toward the Utah senator have made his name a recurring theme in this year's primaries, using him as a foil.
In southeast Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Republicans have used the concept to make their primary opponents enemies. The anti-tax group Club For Growth, among the most active super PACs in this year's primaries, used "Mitt Romney Republican" as the central premise of an attack ad.
In Utah, there are references to Romney Republicanism more often than anywhere else. In the lead-up to Tuesday's Republican primary, candidates are frequently using the term "Mitt Romney Republican" to describe him.
Chris Herrod, a former state lawmaker running in Utah's 3rd Congressional District, said in a debate that there are two different wings of the Republican Party.
If you align with Utah's governor, then I'm probably not your guy.
The fact that his brand has become potent attack fodder shows how singular Romney's position is.
The anti- Trump Republican running in Utah's Senate primary said it was a puzzle.
Romney is revered by many in Utah because he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City's 2002 Winter Olympics were turned around by him. After moving to Utah full time more than a decade ago, he won the Senate race in the state. He didn't reply to questions about the story.
In an interview, Herrod said that referring to Romney was a way to tell voters about his own belief system as well as that of the incumbent Republican congressman. Herrod attacked the man for his positions on energy policy and climate change.
It's difficult to draw a line in the middle of a campaign. I thought people would understand what I was saying.
The congressman was more focused on legislation than branding, according to the campaign. The congressman doesn't spend his time labeling himself or other Republicans.
Andrew Badger, a candidate running in northern Utah's 1st Congressional District, frames his primary campaign as a battle between two different groups of Republicans. The conservative wing is embodied by Utah Sen. Mike Lee and the moderate wing is embodied by Romney.
Four years after he easily defeated a right-wing state lawmaker in Utah's Republican primary and a Democrat in the general election, Romney may be turning off some voters. The last six years have fundamentally changed Republican politics.
It is only building and there is a lot more frustration. I don't think he would win in a Republican primary, that's for sure.
Badger has focused on simmering outrage stemming from the 2020 election and how race, gender and sexuality are taught in schools. He tried to draw a line between Romney and Moore by attacking Moore for being one of the 35 House Republicans who voted to create the commission.
He compared Moore's vote to Romney's votes in favor of impeachment in a district where support for Trump remains strong.
When the pressure gets turned on them, Romney and Moore always cave to the left. We won't compromise for the sake of compromise.
Moore did not vote to be removed from office. All but two House Republicans voted against the creation of the select committee after the Senate scuttled the commission.
The congressman's campaign stated that he could be described as a "Big Tent Republican" who doesn't think lawmaking requires abandoning his conservative principles.
The director of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics said that the label "Mitt Romney Republican" probably won't work in Utah because of Romney's popularity.
They appeal to a segment of the Republican Party but probably don't have the numbers to be successful.
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